Device for supplying active substances to a cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A device is provided for supplying one or several active substances to a cleaning device and makes use of a retaining device against which the active substance lies upon or is connected thereto such that the active substance is held by the retaining device. The retaining device is affixable to a conventional cleaning device, preferably one as used in sanitary and/or hygienic fields. The inventive retaining device comprises a receiving area preferably configured as a single-piece ring and connected by means of a coupling section to a fixing area which is affixed to the cleaning device.

The present invention relates to a device for fitting one or severalactive substances to a cleaning device. The present invention relates inparticular to a device for fitting active substances to any givencleaning device as may be used, for example, in sanitary and/or hygienicsurroundings.

Uncompromising cleanliness plays a prominent role in many spheres ofmodern life. The need for and the availability of cleansers and cleaningagents for the most varied of applications is virtually incalculable.Yet cleaning agents are often used without the appropriate cleaningdevices such that, on the one hand, an optimum cleansing effect is notattained and, on the other hand, it's easy for the cleaning agents toend up being applied excessively, resulting in an unnecessary burden onthe environment.

It is therefore the task of the present invention to provide a devicewhich improves upon the disadvantages inherent in the prior art.

This task is solved by a device in accordance with claim 1 as well as bya method in accordance with claim 20. Preferred embodiments of theinventive device and the inventive procedure constitute the object ofthe respective subclaims.

The present invention accordingly allows for active substances to befixed to a cleaning device such that the cleaning effect of said activesubstances is only rendered when the cleaning device is actually used.This results in a need-based application of the active substances whichhas the dual effect of not only having a low impact on the environment,but also cutting down on a user's costs.

To this end, the present invention makes use of a retaining deviceagainst which the active substance lies upon or is connected theretosuch that the active substance is held by the retaining device. Theretaining device is affixable to conventional cleaning devices,preferably those used in sanitary and/or hygienic fields. The cleaningdevice hereby has a gripping section for holding, preferably grasping,the cleaning device as well as a cleaning area connected thereto which,upon movement of the gripping section, comes into at least intermittentcontact with the object to be cleaned.

The active substance held in the retaining device is preferably watersoluble and preferably contains substances selected from a group whichespecially includes lime-dissolving substances, cleansing substances-,scents and air fresheners, disinfectants, foaming substances,odor-eaters, dyes, as well as substances for dissolving urine stains andthe like.

In a particularly preferential embodiment of the inventive device, theretaining device is disposed with a receiving area preferably consistingof a single-piece ring and which is affixed to the cleaning device at afixing area connected thereto, said connection preferably being aninterlocking and/or tension-locked connection. The connection of thefixing area to the receiving area is preferably an integrally-formedone, whereby the receiving area serves for accommodating the activesubstance.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, theretaining device is a configuration of two or more pieces so that theretaining device is affixed by joining together and fixing the retainingdevice's component parts into an assembled state. The two-part ormulti-part retaining device likewise has a fixing area as well as areceiving area connected thereto, whereby the fixing area is affixableto the cleaning device and the thus-connected receiving areaaccommodates the active substance.

This type of retaining device for fitting active substances to acleaning device is thus not limited to a particular type of cleaningdevice, but rather can be affixed to a variety of different kinds ofcleaning devices.

The inventive device is particularly suited for fitting activesubstances to cleaning devices in which the gripping section and/or thecleaning area are elongated along the cleaning device's longitudinalaxis and where the cleaning area is preferably at least partly providedwith protrusions and/or at least partly of a sponge-like material,particularly preferred is the at least partial provision of bristles.

The inventive device is especially preferred for use with cleaningdevices utilized in cleaning toilet bowls.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the inventive retainingdevice, the receiving area of said retaining device extends insubstantially annular fashion around an axis of said retaining device.The retaining device is hereby affixed to the cleaning device at thefixing area, connected to the receiving area via a coupling section. Inits affixed state, the axis of the retaining device is preferablycongruent to, or at least partially coincides with the longitudinal axisof the cleaning device.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the receiving areaextends in polygon shape around the axis of the retaining device.

The receiving area is configured to be substantially flat in both thering-shaped as well as the polygon-shaped embodiment so that the activesubstance lies flat up against said receiving area or adheres to same.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the active substanceis firmly connected to the receiving area, preferably by having beenpoured and/or pressed and/or brought together with connective elements.

Another embodiment of the present invention has a receiving area whichextends at least partially in tubular shape around the axis of theretaining device so that a cavity is thereby defined which serves toaccommodate the active substance. The walls of the tube-shaped receivingarea are at least partly pervious to the active substance, beingpreferably provided with throughlets, so that the active substance canexit the receiving area and the cleaning effect will be realized duringthe cleaning.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the retaining devicefurthermore exhibits a radially cascading cross-section such that aninner section is created within said retaining device which comprisesthe fixing area and which is connected with the holding means' outerarea, which comprises the receiving area, by a coupling sectionextending non-orthogonally to the axis of the retaining device.

The retaining device configured as such enables a simple fixing of theactive substance to said retaining device with respect to a movement ina direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the retainingdevice by engagement with the throughlet of an annularly-configuredactive substance. This fixation hereby ensues preferably by means of aninterlocking meshing of the coupling section, fixing area respectively,with the active substance throughlet.

The fixation of the active substance with respect to a movement in theretaining device's axial direction transpires preferably by means ofprotrusions disposed at the receiving area of said retaining devicewhich engage with active substance openings arranged complementarilythereto. Said protrusions hereby extend at least partly parallel to theaxis of the retaining device.

When using the cleaning device, for instance when cleaning a toiletbowl, the active substance is excreted due to its water solubility. Theactive substance is thus dissipated over the course of time during whichthe cleaning device is used.

The retaining device, preferably made from plastic, remains herebyunchanged and can then again accommodate a furthercorrespondingly-configured active substance. This results in the presentinvention providing an added measure of environmental friendliness sinceone and the same retaining device can accommodate a plurality of activesubstances.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention exhibits a closedring-shaped profile of the receiving area around the axis of theretaining device. The retaining device moreover exhibits an at leastpartly radially-extending perforation to the fixing area and/or thecoupling section and/or the receiving area. The retaining deviceadditionally comprises a flap affixed to the retaining device'sreceiving area at a substantially opposite position with respect to itsaxis.

Further embodiments of the present invention have an open annularprofile around the axis of the retaining device as well as a flapaffixed to the receiving area opposite the opening in the ring.

The inventive retaining device is preferably made of synthetic and/orplastic-like material. Said retaining device is furthermore preferablymade of a material which, as does the active substance, also dissolvesupon contact with water. Although the material of the retaining devicewill have a lower solubility than the active substance. The materialcomprising the retaining device may also contain scents or airfreshening substances so as to continuously freshen the air in a room,independent of actual use.

An active substance may be in solid form as well as in liquid or gelforms. In addition, a solid active substance can be rendered in the formof granules or small active agent pellets. The preferential embodimentof the present invention makes use of a solid active substance ofring-shaped configuration.

The inventive retaining device, especially the flap and/or the fixingarea, may furthermore be imprinted with advertising text or graphics.

The fitting of the inventive retaining device to a cleaning device isrendered by sliding the retaining device over the cleaning device'sgripping section and/or a part of its cleaning area, preferably alongthe longitudinal axis of the cleaning device. The fixing area'sinwardly-disposed protrusions are thus frictionally-fitted to thecleaning device and thereby connect the retaining device to the cleaningdevice above the cleaning area's cleaning bristles.

In the case of an embodiment of the retaining device in accordance withthe present invention which comprises two or more pieces, the fitting ofthe retaining device to a cleaning device is rendered by joining thecomponent parts of the retaining device together so that the fixing areaof the retaining device wraps around at least one part of the grippingsection and/or cleaning area of the cleaning device, thus resulting in afriction and/or form fit connection between the retaining device and thecleaning device.

Depending upon the configuration of the retaining device, its removalmay transpire either through pulling same off along the longitudinalaxis of the cleaning device or, in the case of a two-part or multi-partretaining device, by disengaging the retaining device' individual partsfrom one another. A retaining device provided with a perforation and/ora flap can moreover be released from a cleaning device by gripping theflap and pulling the retaining device in a substantially perpendiculardirection relative the cleaning device's longitudinal axis. This resultsin a severing of the retaining device's perforation and, thus, to areleasing of the retaining device from the cleaning device.

In a further embodiment of the inventive retaining device, the retainingdevice is integrally connected to the cleaning device so that only theactive substance is to be fitted to the retaining device or the cleaningdevice, respectively.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention in conjunction with the drawings and claims, whichindicate:

FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of a retaining device in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 a further embodiment of a retaining device in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a retaining devicein accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 a sectional view of a further embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention; and

FIG. 5 a sectional view of a retaining device affixed to a cleaningdevice in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic top plan view of a retaining device 1 inaccordance with the present invention having a receiving area 2, afixing area 3, as well as a coupling section 4. Receiving area 2 ofretaining device 1 hereby extends substantially circularly around acenter of said retaining device 1. Coupling section 4 establishes aconnection between fixing area 3 and receiving area 2. The fixing areahas preferably at least one protrusion extending inwardly from couplingsection 4 toward the circle's center. Coupling section 4 as well asreceiving area 2 of retaining device 1 has a perforation 5 extending atleast partially radially outwardly as well as a flap 6 arranged oppositethereto with respect to the ring's center and connected to receivingarea 2.

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the present invention in whichreceiving area 2 as well as coupling section 4 is arranged in the shapeof a polygon about a center of the retaining device. Fixing area 3 isconnected to coupling section 4, preferably integrally connectedthereto, wherein fixing area 3 has at least one protrusion facing inwardfrom coupling section 4 toward the center of the polygon. The embodimentof the present invention according to FIG. 2 thereby exhibits anon-closed profile to the receiving area around the center of thepolygon.

A non-closed profile to the annular receiving area of the retainingdevice in accordance with FIG. 1 is likewise possible. Analogously tothe embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 1, retainingdevice 1 according to FIG. 2 has a flap 6 connected to receiving area 2situated opposite the break in the open polygon-shaped profile ofreceiving area 2 relative the polygon center.

FIG. 3 shows the position of active substance 8, extending substantiallyannularly around axis 7 of retaining device 1 relative the receivingarea of retaining device 1. Active substance ring 8 therebysubstantially lies against receiving area 2 of retaining device 1. Thecenter of the annularly-configured as well as the polygon-configuredreceiving area 2 thereby coincides with axis 7 of retaining device 1.

Coupling section 4 preferably extends in non-orthogonal manner to axis 7so that said coupling section 4 engages in the throughlet of theannularly-configured or polygon-configured active substance 8 and fixessame relative axis 7, preferably substantially centering same.

Receiving area 2 furthermore comprises protrusions 9 which extend atleast partly parallel to axis 7 and engage in recesses 10 of activesubstance 8 arranged complementarily opposite thereto. Active substance8 is in this way fixed relative retaining device 1.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of an inventive retaining device,likewise having a receiving area 2 extending annularly around axis 7,wherein said receiving area 2 is configured in tubular shape, by meansof which a cavity is defined which serves for the accommodating ofactive substance 8. The walls of said tube-shaped receiving area 2 arehereby provided with throughlets 11 which allow for active substance 8to be discharged from receiving area 2. Receiving area 2 is in turnconnected by means of coupling section 4 to a fixing area 3 which servesfor the fastening of retaining device 1 to a cleaning device.

FIG. 5 shows an inventive retaining device in affixed state to acleaning device 20. Here, the inward-facing flexibly-configuredprotrusions of fixing area 3 are in frictional-fit connection withcleaning area 23 so that coupling section 4 holds receiving area 2 tocleaning device 20 above cleaning bristles 24. Active substance 8thereby lies, as likewise shown in FIG. 3, upon the receiving area ofretaining device 1.

The affixing of retaining device 1 to cleaning device 20 transpires hereby slipping retaining device 1 over gripping section 21 of cleaningdevice 20 along the longitudinal axis 25 of the cleaning device untilthe desired position is reached above the cleaning bristles 24 ofcleaning area 23.

The protrusions of fixing area 3 are hereby of elastic configurationsuch that retaining device 1 may be affixed to different cleaningdevices of varying thicknesses.

Another advantage of the inventive retaining device is moreover given inthat after active substance 8 has been depleted, same can be replenishedwith new active substance 8 without needing to replace retaining device1. This reduces a user's costs and furthermore contributes to protectingthe environment.

1. A device for fitting one or more active substances to a cleaningdevice, especially in sanitary or hygienic surroundings, said cleaningdevice comprising: a retaining device being affixable and at least oneof: intermittently interlocking and tension-locked to at least onegripping section of said cleaning device, which is being hand-held andmoved by a user when utilizing said cleaning device or at least onecleaning area of said cleaning device, which comes into at leasttemporary contact with an object to be cleaned upon said grippingsection being moved, said retaining device holding said activesubstance, and said retaining device being one of: a single-piececonfiguration and having disposed thereon at least one fixing area beingslippable over at least one of at least a part of said gripping sectionand said cleaning area of said cleaning device, and a configuration ofat least two pieces being joinable into an assembled state, wherebyfixing areas mounted thereon wrap around at least one of at least a partof said gripping section and said cleaning area of said cleaning device;and said retaining device having at least one receiving area extendingat least partially around an axis and which is at least partiallyconnected to said active substance; and that said fixing area of saidretaining device is connected to at least a portion of said receivingarea, integrally connected thereto, and having at least one of: at leastone partially inward-extending protrusion and at least one elasticelement extending at least partially around said axis.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that said active substancecontains substances selected from among a group which especiallyincludes lime-dissolving substances, cleansing substances, scents, airfresheners, disinfectants, foaming substances, odor-eaters, dyes,substances for dissolving urine stains, and the like.
 3. The device inaccordance with claim 1, characterized in that said active substance iswater soluble.
 4. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterizedin that said retaining device is of said single-piece configuration. 5.The device according to claim 4, characterized in that at least onecoupling section is arranged between said receiving area and said fixingarea.
 6. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that saidreceiving area is arranged to be at least one of substantially flat andsubstantially perpendicular to axis.
 7. The device according to claim 4,characterized in that said receiving area extends at least partially inat least one of an annular and polygonal shape around said axis and theprogression of said receiving area around said axis is at leastpartially tubular and the walls of said tube comprise one or morethroughlets.
 8. The device according to claim 4, characterized in thatat least one of said receiving area, said coupling section and saidfixing area are at least partially of latticed configuration.
 9. Thedevice according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one of saidreceiving area, said coupling section and said fixing area comprise atleast a perforation extending at least partially radially.
 10. Thedevice according to claim 4, characterized in that anoutwardly-extending flap is affixed at said receiving area, affixedintegrally thereto.
 11. The device according to claim 4, characterizedin that said active substance comprises at least one of a gel, at leasta granule material, at least a liquid, at least a polymer and at least asolid substance.
 12. The device according to claim 4, characterized inthat said active substance is configured to be at least one of partlyannular, polygonal and the profile of said active substance correspondssubstantially to the profile of said receiving area around said axis.13. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that said activesubstance is disposed to at least one of lie upon said receiving areaand be suspended at said receiving area.
 14. The device according toclaim 4, characterized in that the transition zone of said retainingdevice engages in the centric throughlet of said active substance ringor active substance polygon, respectively.
 15. The device according toclaim 4, characterized in that said receiving area has at least oneprotrusion extending at least partially parallel to said axis whichengages into at least one recess of said active substance arrangedcomplementarily thereto.
 16. The device in accordance with claim 1,characterized in that said retaining device is of two-piece ormulti-piece configuration.
 17. The device according to claim 16,characterized in that the components of said retaining device are joinedtogether when in said assembled state by at least one connective means.18. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least oneof said gripping section and said cleaning area of said cleaning deviceis configured to extend in substantially elongated design along alongitudinal axis of said cleaning device; and said cleaning area is atleast partially provided with bristles arranged to extend radiallyoutwardly relative said longitudinal axis of said cleaning device. 19.The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said cleaningdevice is a brush for cleaning toilet bowls.
 20. A method for fittingone or more active substances to a cleaning device, especially insanitary or hygienic surroundings, the method comprising the followingsteps: affixing a retaining device having at least one receiving areaextending at least partially around an axis and which is at leastpartially connected to said active substance, and at least one fixingarea of said retaining device is connected to at least a portion of saidreceiving area, integrally connected thereto, and having at least oneof: at least one partially inward-extending protrusion and at least oneelastic element extending at least partially around said axis; saidretaining device; holding said active substance to said cleaning deviceby one of slipping said at least one fixing area disposed on saidretaining device over at least one of at least a part of a grippingsection and a cleaning area of said cleaning device, and by joining atleast two components of said retaining device into an assembled state,whereby said at least one fixing area mounted thereon wrap around atleast one of at least a part of said gripping section and said cleaningarea of said cleaning device.
 21. The method according to claim 20,characterized by the additional procedural steps: extracting an activesubstance from a packaging provided thereto; affixing said activesubstance to at least one part of said retaining device.
 22. The methodaccording to claim 20, characterized by the additional procedural steps:grasping the flap of said retaining device; drawing said retainingdevice back from said cleaning device in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis; discarding said retainingdevice.